Literacy Matters Vol. 25 Winter 2025

Books to Foster Letter or CardWriting The jolly postman or other people’s letters. Ahlberg, J. & Ahlberg, A. (1986). Little Brown and Company. ISBN: 0-336-12684-6 This classic, interactive book, written in simple rhyme format, allows children to open different kinds of letters in envelopes attached to the book. This book includes various types of print and handwritten versions of letters. As such, this book encourages readers to write such letters as well.

a formal written request to their farmer on an old typewriter to receive blankets in the barn at night to stay warm. The story sets a powerful example of the importance of written, persuasive communication in a formal letter. The rhyming, repetitive phrase “click clack moo” repeats itself in the story, mimicking the typewriter sounds. This book invites letter writing for persuasive purposes. It is also available in Spanish.

Can I be your dog? Cummings, T. (2022). Dragonfly Books. ISBN: 978-0593380062 In this New York Times bestseller, Arfy, a lonely,

Jolly the Christmas postman. Ahlberg, J. & Ahlberg, A. (2001). Little Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-12715-9

homeless dog, writes many persuasive letters to people living on a particular street without any luck until the mail carrier takes a liking to him and adopts him. This story depicts perseverance in writing to advocate for needs and beliefs.

This classic, interactive picture book, written in short rhyme format, contains various letters written by fairytale characters. The Jolly Postman delivers the letters or cards along with presents for Christmas. Readers and listeners can pull out a variety of letters from envelopes attached to pages of the book. Colorful illustrations allow for entertaining dialog about characters. The different kinds of letters and cards invite readers to engage in writing of that kind themselves.

This llama can write. DeDurr, P. (2022). Sensing Greatness. Illustrator: Eduardo Pa. ISBN: 978-1737862222

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At the end of the year on the farm, llamas engage in a thank-you letter-writing celebration. Little llama Cria has difficulties with this task because she has dysgraphia. Readers learn what helps Cria write her letter and become an independent writer. This story demonstrates creative ideas to use when struggling to write a thank you card or letter. It also allows readers to understand dysgraphia so they can be supportive of those peers who may face this issue.

The jolly pocket postman. Ahlberg, J. & Ahlberg, A. (2006). Little Brown and Company. ISBN: 978-0670886265 This third book in the Jolly Postman series for

3-5-year-olds includes pull-out letters and a magnifying glass so children can look at details in this story. This story depicts the postman suffering from a bump to the head and, as a result, shrinks to the size of a postage stamp. This book motivates readers to explore writing letters of different kinds.

Yours in books. Falatko, J. (2021). Abrams Books for Young Readers. Illustrator: Gabriel Alborozo. ISBN: 978-1951836207 This book celebrates book reading, libraries, letter

writing, and companionship, all in letters written back and forth between Owl, who lives in solitude, and Squirrel, who helps Owl to experience that friendship and companionship are better than staying alone all the time. As such, this book encourages letter writing for emotional support.

Writing right. Baker, C. (2019) Watertree Press. Illustrator: Noor Moiz. ISBN: 978-0991104635 This story, written by a high school student,

helps readers see how, through tenacity, one can overcome a writing disability like dysgraphia to become a confident writer. Most of the shared strategies can be beneficial for struggling writers in general. The story demonstrates how learning to write is a process that requires perseverance to rewrite and edit many times before a good final writing product.

Dragon post. Yarlett, E. (2018). Walker Books. ISBN: 978-1-61067-818-6 Alex finds a dragon in the house and writes letters to ‘experts’ to receive dragon-care

tips. Readers can pull out five expert letters from responders such as firemen or a butcher. This book demonstrates the importance of information-seeking in letter writing.

The thank you letter. Cabrera, J. (2022). Holiday House. ISBN: 978-0-8234-4250-8 This colorful book shows Grace writing a birthday present list and how she celebrates her birthday with

Felix travels back in time. Langen, A. (2004). Abbeville Press. Illustrator: Constanza Droop. ISBN: 978-0-789200020 Seven to nine-year-olds enjoy finding out where

friends. Afterward, Grace writes thank you letters for her gifts and letters to her dog and other people in town. As a result, she receives many notes of appreciation in return. This book makes the benefits of personal letter writing to people evident and motivating. Click clack moo. Cows that type. Cronin, D. (2000). Simon & Schuster. Illustrator: Betsy Levin. ISBN: 978-0-689832-130 This classic Caldecott Honor Award winner tells the hilariously illustrated story about cows on a farm making

Felix, Sophie’ lost stuffed bunny, went. He sends her letters from different places in time and space that readers can pull out of envelopes. These letters share about Ancient Greece, the American Great Plains of Native Americans, the Vikings, and the Stone Age. As such, they are a good fit for social studies lessons and motivating writers to share what they read, view in films, or experience during travels in letters to a trusted reader.

Literacy Matters | Volume 25 • Winter 2025 | 21 |

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